Capsule-machine



(No'Model) F. A. HUBEL.

CAPSULE MACHINE.

Patented Dec. '18, 1883...

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FRED. A. HUBEIJ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAPSULE- MACHINE.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,583, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed January 22, 19.83. (X model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED. A. HUBEL, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful I1n piovements in Capsule-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines employed to cutoff at any required length gelatine capsules upon their molds preparatory to their removal from the same; and it is especially designed as an improvement upon the machine for a similar purpose patented to me in Reissue No. 8,440, dated October 1, 1878, and patent No, 233,139, dated December 30, 1879.

The invention consists, particularly, in the method of cutting off the capsules, and the combination of the mechanical means therefor with other operating devices heretofore described in said Letters Patent, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section on the line y y in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the cutting-blades and devices for expanding; the same, detached. Fig. 4 is abottom plan of the cutters, showing a section of a capsulemold between the two knife-blades. Fig. 5 is a plan. View of four cutting-blades.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents the bed of the machine, adapted to have a vertical reciprocating motion upon the posts B through the medium of the lever G and shaft D.

E represents a plate, to which are secured a series of molds, F, such as are described in the Letters Patent above described, and this plate of moids is locked upon the bed A by means of the screwclamp G, forcing the same into contact with the ledge H upon the opposite side of the bed.

I represents a series of cog-wheels provided with hubs J, which are journaled in the plate K, and the upper sides of these cog-wheels are journaled in the plate L, both these plates K and L being secured upon the posts B, and these cog-wheels are so arranged with relation to a central cog-wheel, M, that motion being given to the latter such motion is communicated to them. This-wheel is secured upon a shaft, N, the lower end of which is journaled or stepped in the plate K, while the upper end thereof passes through the plate 0, which is above the plate L, and is adapted to have a vertical play, upon the springs P.

Upon the upper end of the shaft N is secured the crank Q in such a manner that it will rotate the shaft to which it is attached when the crank is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The end of the crank which is attached to the shaft is preferablyforked to embrace the head of the shaft, to which it is pivotally secured, and the two sides of the fork form a cam, so that when the crank is inthe position shown such cam depresses the plate 0; but when the crank is turned upward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the pressure of the cam is relnoved'from the plate, which is then elevated by the action of the springs P,interposed between the plates L and 0. To this plate 0 are secured a series of rods, B, there being as many as there are cogwheels rotated by the central wheel. These hubs J of the wheels I, and have secured at the bottom of each a disk or expander, S.

Secured to the lower end of each of the hubs J area pair of spring-arms, T, to the lower ends of which are secured the cutting-blades a, which form segments of a circle with rounded corners. Upon the inner face of each one of the spring-arms are secured, opposite each other, the inclined planes V. V

In practice the bed-plate is dropped by means of the devices described, and the plate of molds, upon which the capsules to be operated upon are formed, is placed and secured upon the bed. The crank Q, being in the position shown in the drawings, holds the two spring-arms of each pair of cutters spread apart at the bottom by means of the expander or disk S, impinging forcibly against the inclined planes upon the inner sides of such spring-arms. The bedis then elevated to the desired height, which determines the length of the capsule. The crank Q is now turned into the position shown in dotted lines, which withdraws the expander from its contact with the inclined planes, and allows the cutters to forcibly approach each other, impinging upon opposite sides of the capsule-molds and pinchrods pass downward centrally through the cutters again.

ing or biting off the capsules upon two opposite sides, when the crank is thrown down into its original position, thereby expanding the Then the crank is partially rotated, until such cutters are brought opposite those portions of the capsules which have not been pinched or bit off. The crank is then again thrown into the position shown in dotted lines, relieving the expansion of the cutters, which now approach each other again and pinch off upon opposite sides the portions which have not been heretofore pinched off. WVhile in this position,the bed may be slightly elevated, whereby the tag ends or burrs are forced away from the capsules. then thrown down into a horizontal position again, the bed lowered, the plate of molds removed, and another one inserted, when the operation begins anew.

WVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a capsule-machine, the combination of a series of mold-pins and a series of concave knives and devices, substantially as described, for withdrawing one series from the other, as set forth.

2. The improvement herein described in the art of making capsules, whereby a series of capsules are uniformly and smoothly cut, which consists in first bringing a series of blades and coated molds inj uxtaposition, then moving one series in a direction transversely to the length of the molds, to cut the capsules, then moving said series away from the other, then turning one series partly around and again moving one series transversely to the length of the molds, to make a second cut in the capsules, substantially as set forth.

3. In a capsule-machine, the combination of a series of molds and a series of pairs of blades, mechanism, substantially as described, for first causing said knives to simultaneously approach toward each other, then partially rotating The crank is such spring-arms are attached, and having a vertically-reciproeating motion for the purpose of expanding the distance between the blades by impinging against inclined planes upon the inner sides of the spring-arms, s'ubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a capsule-cutting machine, the pivoted and rotating crank Q, whereby the expanders are forced down between the spring-arms for spreading apart the pinching-blades, and the blades are rotated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a capsule-machine, the combination of the spring P, plate 0, and rods R, by means of which the disks S are withdrawn from their impingement upon the inclined planes. of the spring-arms, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for cutting capsules, the combination of the following devices, viz: a mold-pin adapted to support a capsule while being out, one or more cutters adapted, when brought in contact with said mold pin, to partially or whollyinclose the same, and mechanism whereby said cutter or cutters are moved at will toward or away from said mold-pins.

FRED. A. HUBEL.

\Vitnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. SoULLY. 

